Mary Nell Carder, 84, of Baker City died April 10, 2005, at Meadowbrook Place.
There will be a private family inurnment at the Milton-Freewater Cemetery.
Mary was born on June 11, 1920, to Rueben and Lenna Reusaw Isitt at Elgin. Her family moved by wagon from Milton-Freewater to Elgin. She was married to Elmer Midkiff in 1941. Together they raised two children, Bernadine J. Stillwill and David E. Midkiff.
After Elmer’s service in the U.S. Navy, the family traveled to Oregon following his work in construction. They spent most of their time in Klamath Falls and Umatilla. The couple later divorced.
She later married George Smick, and moved to Pendleton. They owned a bakery and Mary worked mainly as a waitress.
In 1970, Mary was married to her third husband, Glen Carder, at Lewiston, Idaho. She moved to Baker City in 1981 and worked in home care for several families.
Mary lived at Eldon Street and met and enjoyed many people in the neighborhood. She loved going for drives and picnics. At home, she enjoyed embroidery and gardening; she loved her flowers. Mary was active at Community Connection and a member of the Adventist church.
She was preceded in death by her ex-husbands, Elmer Midkiff, George Smick and Glen Carder; parents, Rueben and Lenna Isitt; daughter, Bernadine Stillwill; brothers, Alton, Noah, George, Ralph and Jess; sisters, Agnes, Pat, Lorraine “Rusty,” Amy and Margaret.
Survivors include her son David Midkiff and his wife, Janet, of Baker City; grandchildren, Sgt. Daniel T. Midkiff, serving in Iraq, and his wife, Michelle, of Hermiston, Cameron Midkiff and his wife, Rosa, of Los Angeles, Matt Stillwill and his wife, Denise of Seattle, Wash., Susan Stillwill of Tri-Cities, Wash., and Patrick Stillwill of Boulder, Colo.; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Tom Isitt; and a sister, Bea Clemensen.
Memorial contributions may be made to MayDay or to the Adventist Church through Gray’s West & Co., PO Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 15, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
